GAWA stalwart Sydney Paul passes on
Former coach, vice-president and founding member of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association Sydney Paul.
Former coach, vice-president and founding member of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association Sydney Paul.

THE Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) yesterday confirmed the passing of one of its stalwarts and founding members, Mr Sydney Paul.

A release from the body confirmed that Paul, also known as Skipper, Sandy, Sadow, and Lion, died after a period of illness.
Once a National coach and vice-president, ‘Skipper’ helped to start the ball rolling during the 1940s when the organisation was formed.
The father of eleven was the first Guyanese to become an International Weightlifting Federation Class One referee and served as coach and manager for many overseas competitions, leading Guyana’s delegations.
Under his watch, lifters such as Martin Dias, Mike Swine, Stanley Braithwaite and Roy McArthur were produced and Guyana, then British Guiana won silver in the middleweight class in 1947 World weightlifting championship in the USA thanks to Kevil Daly – a feat yet to be replicated.
Guyana also won medals – gold, silver and bronze – at other international and regional championships such as the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games.
After a period of dormancy between 1979 and 1989 Paul, along with the late Cecil Ramsingh, reintroduced the sport to Guyana with the first championship being held in 1990.
The Championship fielded a new breed, the likes of Subrena Pestino, Shondel King, Althea Mayers-Joseph, Sharon Clarke, Sean Cozier, Colin McKoy, Deion Nurse, Wayne Cozier and Aubrey Smith.
Paul is survived by his children, many grandchildren, great-grand and great-great grandchildren. and members of the sports fraternity.
Funeral arrangements for the late Sydney Paul will be announced at a later date. He was 96.

 

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